- US has no legitimate right to Iraqi oil and lifting of
sanctions must wait, say neighbours
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- The US-led forces that invaded Iraq had no right to exploit
its oil and UN sanctions on Iraq should end only when it has a legitimate
government, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Saturday.
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- Speaking after a meeting of eight regional states on
post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, he said the invading forces must reestablish
security and withdraw as soon as possible, allowing Iraqis to form their
own government.
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- The group of eight ö including all six
of Iraqâs neighbours ö have been meeting in Saudi Arabia on
a day marked by huge anti-American demonstrations throughout occupied Iraq.
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- In a joint statement released early Saturday morning, Prince
Saud Al-Faisal said that the US-led forces who invaded Iraq had no legitimate
right to exploit its oil. He added that UN sanctions should end only when
Iraq has a legitimate government.
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- "Now Iraq is under an occupying power and any request
for lifting sanctions must come when there is a legitimate government which
represents the people... and which can comply with its duties towards lifting
sanctions," Prince Saud told reporters after the meeting
of eight regional states.
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- "(The ministers) affirmed that the Iraqi people
should administer and govern their country by themselves, and any exploitation
of their natural resources should be in conformity with the will of the
legitimate Iraqi government and its people," the prince said, reading
from a joint statement after the talks.
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- The Riyadh meeting consisted of Iraqâs neighbours
and other Arab states concerned about the political ramifications of a
long-term US occupation. They held talks on Friday and into early Saturday
morning aimed at coming up with a united position on a national government
that will hasten the withdrawal of US forces.
The foreign ministers of Iraq's six neighbours ö Syria, Jordan, Turkey,
Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia ö along with Egypt and current Arab
League chairman Bahrain, asked that US troops leave Iraq ãas soon
as possibleä even as they disagreed on other key points.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher hinted at the differences among the
participants. "There could be divergent analyses (of the situation),"
he said without elaborating.
The differences relate to the status of the Kurds in the north, Turkish
demands on oil from the city of Kirkuk and the identity of certain figures
tipped to become members of a future Iraqi government, a participating
diplomat said.
Participants in the meeting hoped it would provide a consensus that will
help start negotiations with the US and give the regionâs countries
a greater say in the running of Iraq.
The Saudi Foreign Minister said in an opening address that the closed-door
talks would focus on "certain principles that would serve as the basis
for contacts with the international parties" that are now players
in Iraq.
"We call on the occupying authority, which we hope will withdraw from
Iraq as soon as possible, to quickly put in place an interim government
with a view to putting in place a constitutional government," Prince
Saud said.
"Iraq's territory and wealth belong to Iraqis," he said, adding
that the United Nations must play a key role in the country.
Washington's threats against Syria were also criticised by the opening
statement.
"We absolutely refuse the recent threat against Syria which can only
increase the likelihood of a new circle of war and hatred, especially in
light of the continuing deterioration of the Palestinian situation,"
said the statement, read out by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.
We call on the United States to use dialogue with Syria and to activate
the (Middle East) peace process," it said, welcoming a possible visit
to Syria by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Iran, a member of US President George Bush's 'axis of evil', said it remains
unworried about being attacked by Washington.
"We do not have such a concern because the situation in Iraq was a
totally different story," Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said.
Al Jazeera with agencies
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